Overview
- The government confirmed a three-stage rollout beginning May 1, 2026, with Section 21 abolished and all tenancies moving to periodic agreements.
- New protections will ban bidding wars, limit rent rises to once a year with notice, prohibit discrimination against tenants on benefits or with children, and curb unreasonable refusals of pet requests.
- Councils in England will oversee enforcement, with fines up to £7,000 for breaches and up to £40,000 for repeat or serious offences, and rent repayment orders available.
- Landlords will retain grounds to evict for antisocial behaviour or at least three months of unpaid rent, face a bar on selling or moving in during the first 12 months of a tenancy, and cannot re-let for 12 months after using a move-in ground.
- Ministers and legal advisers warned that current rules remain in place until May 2026 and urged landlords and agents to prepare for database registration, stronger vetting and compliance changes.